Former Chelsea star ‘a breath of fresh air’ for the Greens
Michael Duberry has FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup medals to his name, but this summer found himself unemployed for the first time in a near 20-year career.
The 37-year-old, who collected major silverware on a regular basis during seasons with Chelsea in the 1990s, was a free agent after being released by Oxford United.
The centre-back had offers but wanted to remain within a 45-minute commute from his Hertfordshire home.
Duberry accepted an offer from friend Gary McCann, manager of Hendon, to train with the Harrow-based Ryman Premier club, and later agreed to sign on for his first foray into non-League.
And so, nearly 13 years on from a Champions League appearance at the Nou Camp with Leeds, Duberry recently made his Hendon debut at Bayliss Avenue, home of Thamesmead Town.
He told West London Sport: “I was training regularly with Hendon and it was something that suited both parties.
“I get to keep my fitness levels up and the club gets an experienced player.
“Hendon is a good club. The best way to attract experienced players to a part-time club is by running it in a professional way and that’s what Hendon do.”
However, Greens fans hoping to get a full season out of their marquee signing may be disappointed as Duberry still has designs on a return to the Football League.
He said: “I could play at a higher level and if the opportunity comes along then great, but if it doesn’t I’m happy playing for Hendon.
“I’m no different to any other Hendon player in the sense that if someone comes in, the club won’t stand in my way.
“The lower level clubs will be making final decisions on their squads soon so I guess after about six weeks I’ll have a better idea.”
Boss McCann says Duberry has been a “breath of fresh air” and set a professional example from his first training session.
McCann added: “He still plays every game as if it’s his first.
“He’s very vocal, which is something we’ve lacked in the last 18 months, and he also brings a lot of quality into the squad.
“Whether it’s for 10 months or 10 games, he’s keen to do what he can for us.”
Duberry, who also played for Stoke, Reading, Wycombe and St Johnstone, said: “I love having the enthusiasm and the drive to win.
“I don’t care who I’m playing against, it could be Andy Cole, Thierry Henry or Fernando Torres, I will still play with the same intensity.
“I don’t want any striker I’m up against to go down the pub and tell his mates ‘I mugged him off, he’s past it’.
“I want him to say ‘he’s played at a high level, I wouldn’t want to come up against him again’.”
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